Vaping has been heavily marketed as a safe alternative to smoking tobacco products, but are we being too relaxed about the negative consequences of using e-cigarettes? Until recently, there has been little research into the long-term consequences of vaping, but a new US study has thrown doubt of the idea that they carry a low health risk.
The website MM+M reports on a new study by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine, which compared a group of adults aged 18 to 45 who used regular cigarettes with a similar group who used e-cigarettes. The study found the effects on blood pressure between both groups was the same—8% higher compared to a group of non-smokers.
Furthermore, both regular cigarette users and e-cigarette users had elevated heart rates and changes to the vascular system, compared to people of the same age and state of health, who had never used any smoking or vaping products. Safety concerns in the US have led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban some vaping products.
Here in the UK, the BBC reports that there has been a sharp rise in the number of young people taking up vaping, with an NHS survey reporting that 9% of 11 to 16 year olds use e-cigarettes, up from 6% four years ago.
The legal minimum age for vaping in the UK is 18 years old, but the fact that vaping products are marketed in sweet flavours and bright colours has led some people to suggest they are cynically aimed at hooking young people on smoking.
Although e-cigarettes generally contain lower levels of nicotine and other harmful chemicals which are present in tobacco cigarettes, they can still be highly addictive. Many people are unaware that some e-cigarette companies are owned or part owned by tobacco companies, so there may be an ulterior motive for them to market vaping to teenagers.
Vaping companies defend the marketing of their products, claiming that they help adults who are hooked on regular smoking to quit. However, there are an increasing number of people taking up vaping who have never smoked before, raising concerns that they may move on to more harmful tobacco products in the future.
There is no doubt that many ex-smokers have successfully transitioned to less harmful vaping habits, but as there is growing evidence of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, it may not be the ideal solution to smoking addiction that it was first claimed to be.
The dangers of smoking regular cigarettes are well known, Four out of five cases of lung disease are smoking-related in the UK, including passive smoking. Cigarette smoking is a drain on finances, and is associated with a wide range of other serious illnesses, and poorer mental health and wellbeing.
For those who want to quit, there is help available. Beating the habit, especially on those stressful days when you crave nicotine, can be incredibly difficult. However, thousands of people find the willpower to successfully quit smoking every year, and never smoke again.
Some people find that working with a therapist, who can help to change their thought patterns and negative behaviours, is the best solution for them. If you would like to book a session of Hypnotherapy in Harley Street, please talk to me today.
Comments